Wilton Playshop president picks Sherwood to lead theater

Zelie Pforzheimer, president of the Wilton Playshop, and the new incoming director Lauren Sherwood.

Zelie Pforzheimer, president of the Wilton Playshop, and the new incoming director Lauren Sherwood.

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Zelie Pforzheimer, president of the Wilton Playshop, and the new incoming director Lauren Sherwood.

Zelie Pforzheimer, president of the Wilton Playshop, and the new incoming director Lauren Sherwood.

Wilton Playshop president picks Sherwood to lead theater

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WILTON — After an eight-year run, the unrefuted protagonist of The Wilton Playshop has renounced her recurring role as president and actress Lauren Nicole Sherwood is set to run the show.

Zelie Pforzheimer will not be returning as president for the 78th season of the Playshop approaching this fall. She is, however, prepared to both introduce and welcome her successor.

“I’ve been looking for someone to take my place for two years now,” Pforzheimer revealed. “To be president, you have to have a combination of several traits, and it took me two years to find someone who was fit to take the position.”

Pforzheimer and Sherwood are no strangers to sharing the stage with one another.

Both appeared and worked on the comedic production “The Drowsy Chaperone” that debuted at the Playshop last fall.

However, it was Sherwood’s choreography and direction of “The Little Women Musical” that made her a shoo-in for the job as president.

“I was impressed by her ability to direct and choreograph,” Pforzheimer said. “It was challenging but she [handled] it beautifully.”

Sherwood’s ability to multitask inspired another change for The Playshop as well. She will also be stepping in and replacing Janice Dehn as executive director.

“I could not be more delighted to have her,” Dehn said. “I’ve worked with Lauren and she’s been the complete professional. She is both organized and talented.”

While both Dehn and Pforzheimer are anxious to see what Sherwood brings to the table, Sherwood couldn’t be more excited…or nervous.

“I am very excited but also very nervous,” Sherwood said in a recent interview. “I’ve been involved with [The Playshop] to know what all of my responsibilities look like. There is a lot of excitement.”

The actress disclosed her plans to take her new roles head on, and she announced her acting hiatus until further notice.

“I’m going to take a little hiatus on performing,” she said.

“As of right now, the job is the priority.”

This isn’t the first change The Playshop has seen over the last several decades. It has endured both renovations and challenges of time.

The Playshop has been established as Wilton’s Community Theater since 1937. It stands both red and quaint with white trimmings outlining its parameters down an inconspicuous Lovers Lane.

Pforzheimer is responsible for The Playshop as it is known today. After salvaging The Playshop from a steep financial debt and physical decay eight years ago, the not-for-profit theater is now a long way from ruin.

Pforzheimer has much to miss.

“I’ll miss having that incredible rush of feeling — that ‘omg, we did it again’ after every opening night,” she shared. “You think it’s never going to work but then opening night comes and everything works.”

Each opening night, audience members typically enter from one of two entrances: There is the entrance leading directly to the show, and then there is the side door that welcomes both participants and viewers as family.

This entrance displays hundreds of show posters which hover over a fully decked lounge area.

With its aged settees, living area ambience and its kitchen trailing along the same side of a dignified black piano, the Playshop screams, “Welcome home, you’re family.”

While Pforzheimer assures that for the time being, Sherwood will stand as an adscititious member of The Playshop board, she’s confident that Sherwood will breathe life to the theater and keep its family themed momentum going.

“She’s the final puzzle peace. She has this ability to rally people around her, and she really created a family of people,” Pforzheimer said. “That is quite possibly the most important skill to have when working with an organization — the ability to build a family.”